NO SUCH THING – “Eggs in the fridge, expired meds, loud sneezes, and more (Mailbag)”
Date: April 8, 2026
Hosts: Manny, Noah, and Devin

Episode Overview

In this mailbag episode of "NO SUCH THING," the trio—Manny, Noah, and Devin—dive into listener-submitted questions to resolve divisive, curious, and sometimes hilarious household and pop culture debates. The topics: whether eggs belong in the fridge, why medicines expire, why sneezes are loud (and come in multiples), how a 24-hour day came to be, and the definitive answer to the eternal PB&J jelly flavor debate. The team consults experts, dig into history, and reference scientific literature, all while maintaining their signature banter and humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Should Eggs Be Kept in the Fridge?

[01:49–10:59]

• Listener Franz from London asks whether eggs must be kept refrigerated and if it affects their nutritional value.
• The hosts share personal habits: all keep eggs in the fridge, but have different approaches for other items (ketchup, potatoes, butter).
• Manny references his wife Mia, a health/science editor and Brit, for an expert answer.
• Expert Input ([06:14]):
  • In the US, eggs are washed and refrigerated before sale, removing the protective cuticle.
  • US eggs must be refrigerated to prevent salmonella.
  • In Europe/UK, eggs are not washed; they retain their natural cuticle and can safely be kept at room temperature.
  • European eggs are consumed fresher; best-by dates are shorter.
  • Quote:
    • "If you're in the US, you have no option. You need to keep them in the fridge. In Europe, it's up to you." – [06:14]
• Key takeaway: Where you live determines how you must store eggs.

Notable Moment:

• The hosts' realization that the difference is due to the washing/removal of the "cuticle," not the eggs themselves.
  "I didn't realize it was literally just what was on the outside of the shell. I assumed it was something more like biological almost." – Noah [08:21]

2. Medicine Expiration Dates

[11:00–19:21]

• Steph asks about the reasoning behind expiration dates on pills and medicine.
• Initial guess: Medicines don't "go bad" like food, but just lose potency.
• Personal anecdotes: The hosts share stories about ancient meds at parents' homes, barely-used giant bottles, etc.
• Research ([15:21]):
  • US Air Force & FDA studies showed most medicines are still effective up to three years past their expiration.
  • Exceptions: Liquid antibiotics, aspirin, nitroglycerin, insulin, and EpiPens become less effective and are best used before expiration.
  • For most over-the-counter meds, taking them a bit past the expiration is safe but may be less effective.
  • Expiration dates are conservative, set for guaranteed full potency and regulatory compliance, not absolute safety or efficacy cutoffs.
  • Storing meds in a cool place (fridge) conserves potency.
  • Quote:
    • "Much of the original potency still remains even a decade after the expiration date." – Noah [18:20]
• Advice: Rx/critical meds: don't risk it; OTCs: less concern.

Notable Moment:

• Manny questions the "Maximum Strength" vs. "Ultimate Strength" branding on Gas X.
  "Why is one of the boxes called Maximum Strength and the stronger one is called Ultimate Strength? Actually, we already passed Max, so I don't know what I'm doing here." – Manny [12:57]

3. The Loud Sneeze Mystery

[22:08–31:01]

• A listener wonders why people sneeze so loudly, if it's behavioral or biological, and why people sneeze more than once.
• The hosts share their own sneeze styles and stories about loud-sneezing parents.
• Research (Popular Science, Dr. Takashima, Houston Methodist):
  • Sneeze volume is determined by the structure of vocal cords, soft tissue in the throat, and lung capacity.
  • Lung size does not alone predict sneeze volume.
  • Culture matters: in Japan, social norms encourage quiet sneezing; it's possible to minimize sneeze volume by closing your mouth, but suppression can be physically uncomfortable or risky.
  • Quote:
    • "It's that gush of air that's pushing through the vocal cords that creates the sound of the sneeze. The shape and floppiness of our vocal cords and other soft tissue at the back of the throat influence whether or not we have a quiet or booming sneeze." – Dr. Takashima (as read by Noah) [26:42]
• Bonus: Why multiple sneezes?
  • If the first sneeze doesn’t clear out the irritant, the body tries again ("your first sneeze didn't do its job").
  • Some people have a photic sneeze reflex—bright lights trigger sneezing in 18-20% of people.
  • Quote:
    • "A second sneeze means that your first sneeze didn't do its job." – Noah [29:30]

Notable Moments:

• The group reflects that behavioral factors (not wanting to be a "dad sneezer") may lead to quieter sneezes—a generational sneeze arms race!

4. Why Are There 24 Hours in a Day?

[31:04–38:03]

• Blake asks: "Why are there 24 hours in a day?"
• The hosts riff, then look up history (ABC Science/Dr. Nick Lomb, Sydney Observatory):
  • Ancient Egyptians divided daytime into 10 hours using shadow clocks, then added two twilight hours (one at each end).
  • Nighttime was divided into 12 hours, based on observations of stars (star groups called "decans").
  • Babylonians further divided hours into 60 minutes, favoring the base-60 system (sexagesimal), also giving us 360 degrees in a circle.
  • System later standardized for practicality, surviving to modern times.
  • Quote:
    • "Our 24 hour day comes from the ancient Egyptians..." – Noah [33:23]
• Cultural tangent: the hosts lament the lack of credit for Egyptian ingenuity in Western narratives.

5. The True Jelly for PB&J

[41:38–48:28]

• Kaylee's dilemma: Is grape or strawberry the "default" for a peanut butter & jelly sandwich?
• The hosts' consensus: Strawberry might be preferred by some, but grape is culturally and historically the American default.
• Deep-dive into PB&J history (National Peanut Board):
  • 1917: Paul Welch patents grape jelly (Grape-lade).
  • Grape jelly was popular with WWI and WWII troops; PB&J's rise is deeply connected to Welch's grape jelly.
  • Commercial, shelf-stable peanut butter after the Depression & WWII made PB&J the household classic.
  • Wikipedia reference checks: "Strawberry" not even mentioned on the PB&J page as the mainstay jelly.
  • Quote:
    • "I prefer the jelly to be strawberry, but I also acknowledge that grape is the traditional peanut butter and jelly." – Manny [42:56]
    • "If you ever hear someone saying strawberry is the default, you have to tell them that there's absolutely zero evidence to back that up." – Manny [47:19]

Notable Moment:

• The hosts imagine cartoon sandwiches and reference “Welch’s grape” and “cartoon purple” as the iconic representation.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:49] – Eggs: Fridge or Counter?
• [06:14] – Expert Explanation: Egg Washing & Storage
• [11:00] – Why Do Medicines Expire?
• [15:21] – Harvard/FDA Study on Medication Potency
• [22:08] – Loud Sneezes: Nature vs. Nurture
• [26:42] – Anatomy of a Sneeze: Dr. Takashima
• [29:04] – Multiple Sneezes & Photic Sneeze Reflex
• [31:04] – Why 24 Hours in a Day?
• [33:23] – Origin: Ancient Egyptian Timekeeping
• [41:38] – PB&J Default Jelly Debate
• [46:10] – Grape Jelly’s Origin Story (Welch’s)
• [48:11] – Categorical Wikipedia Victory for Grape

Memorable Quotes

• "If you're in the US, you have no option. You need to keep them in the fridge. In Europe, it's up to you." – [Medical Expert, 06:14]
• "Much of the original potency still remains even a decade after the expiration date." – Noah [18:20]
• "Why is one of the boxes called Maximum Strength and the stronger one is called Ultimate Strength? Actually, we already passed Max, so I don't know what I'm doing here." – Manny [12:57]
• "It's that gush of air that's pushing through the vocal cords that creates the sound of the sneeze." – Dr. Takashima [26:42]
• "A second sneeze means your first sneeze didn't do its job." – Noah [29:30]
• "Our 24 hour day comes from the ancient Egyptians..." – Noah [33:23]
• "You have to tell them that there's absolutely zero evidence to back that up." (On strawberry as default jelly) – Manny [47:19]

Tone & Language

The episode is packed with the hosts’ casual banter, relatable anecdotes, and witty asides. They consult experts and scientific references while maintaining a fun, accessible, and occasionally irreverent tone that makes dense information lively and memorable.

Summary

This episode of NO SUCH THING exemplifies the show's mission: resolving quirky debates with real research and expertise, plus a lot of hearty laughs. Whether it’s about the microbiology of eggshells, the bureaucratic logic of expiration dates, the genetics of sneezing, the history of timekeeping, or the sociocultural dominance of grape jelly, the trio delivers answers that are equal parts educational and entertaining.

For anyone who’s ever argued over kitchen protocol or playground lunch standards, this is the explainer episode for you.